Roach run



A. WEIL Jan. 25, 1944.

Roma nur:

Filed Jan. 27. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 zal A. WEIL ROACH RUN md Jan. 27, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 25, 1944 UNIT ED STATES PAT ENT F F .l C i-E ROACI-I RUN Alex Weil, vNew York, N. Y. Application January 27, 1942Serial No. 428,359

18 Claims.

This invention relates to Ythe extermination of roaming or crawling insects, such .as roaches.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a practical deviceVcapable of inexpensive manufacture, for containing a poisonous lifedestroying substance, preferably in powder-like form, `and in which access to the substance is easily gained by the form of life to be destroyed While spilling from or sifting out of the device `o1 the particlesof. the .powder-like substance isprevented within adequate range Yof safety. Another objectis to .provide a devicelof the above-.mentionedcharacter that will provide a natural attraction for such insects, :Whether or not `the device contains, r4in Ythe ,poisonous substance kor otherwise, a lure. Another object is to provide a construction of Atheabove-Inentioned character which can .be made up .of individually simple Aand inexpensive 'parts and in which such parts can bedependably and efficiently assembled to complete the device. Another object is to Yprovide a device of the above-mentioned character which can be handled in shipment or sale or other channels of commerce with complete safety and which can be .easily and quickly conditioned, ywhen it Visready to .be put in operation, for functioning for its intended purposes.

Another object is to `provide a device of the above-,mentioned character which is capable of embodiment in relatively compact and small form and Which can be positioned for actua1 use in a wide variety of locations, usually long and narrow spaces. Another object is to provide a Vdevice of the above-mentioned character that Will be of dependable construction, simple and safe to handle, and in particular safe and simple in use or application on the part of the using public. Another object is to provide a device of the abovementioned character providing for the safe prevention of access to the poisonous material on the part vof humans, domestic animals or pets, or the like. Another object is to provide a device of the abovementioned `character capable of utilizing a poisonous substancein dry, granular 0r powder-like form `Without material risk of egress of particles of the substance from the device, 'even though free entry or exit of insects relative to the device itself is present. Another object is Itoprovide a device of the Vabove-mentioned character Afor dependably realizing Ythe advantages of ,destroying life in life-forms such as roaches, vbyletting such life-forms pick ,upthe particles of the poisonous substance by contact with their legs, Vbodies or other parts, to Vbe subseguently taken into ltheir bodies by absorption or `bv the self-grooming instincts, Without 'material risk of .contaminating thesurroundingsin which Ythe device is used or people or domestic animals that might have access to the device.

Other objects Yare also to provide lin general an improved, morek efficient, and ,safe device Afor achieving extermination, to providea vdevice capable of inexpensive and quantity production, and to provide a device having VWide flexibility cf physical placement or location and thus to permit the employment of devices ,in adequate number in ,order thus more effectively to compete with other attractions vto the life-forms to be exterminated. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features `of construction, combinations vof elements, and arrangements lof parts as will :be exemplied in the Vstructure Vto Abehereinafter described, and the Vscope of the application of which will be indicated inthe Vfollowing claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown several .of various possible embodiments of this invention, i

Figure 1 is a perspective viewrof a deviceshowing it as it would ybe placedor laid down on `a supporting surfacasuch as a oor, table or the like, in actual use, and ready to bemade operative for functioning; Y Y

Figure 2 .isa plan view of part of the device of Figure 1; Y

.Figure 3 isa `plan View of .another ypart of `the device showing .an illustrative ,form of construction and assembly;

Figure Sais a vertical sectional view `as seen along the line 3&-32 of ,Figure 3;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View as seen along theline l-ll orFigure .1, with the device made operative for functioning, and showing also certain offthe parts as .they are seen along theline 4 4 of Figure;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional View as seen along .the line,5-5 rof Figure l andshowing Valso `certain .of the parts as they vappear along the line.5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 isa view showing in perspective .another illustrative form of device;

Figure `'7 is aplan view ,of part .of the device of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a-plan view ofanother orcompanion part ofthe device. of .Figure .6; p

Figure 9 is an end elevation as seenfrom the left or the right in Figure; and

Figure 10'is a:fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view as seen along .the line Ill-,I0 `of Figure' 8.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings:

Referring first to Figures 1-3, the device, generally indicated as a whole by the reference character 20, is preferably in the form of an elongated closed casing structure, preferably made of any suitable sheet material, illustratively cardboard, and preferably is o f small height and width compared to its length, and has suitable means, preferably an opening at each end portion, for permitting entry into its interior of the life-form, such as a roach. The opening or openings may be provided in any one or more of the walls of the casing structure and illustratively I have shown two openings 2| and 22 in the top wall 23, one at each end thereof.

These openings 2| and 22 are preferably nor-` mally closed for purposes of handling or shipment, and are opened when the device is .to be positioned or laid down usually in relatively long, narrow spaces such as along walls, in spaces between cabinets, furniture or the like and walls, etc., etc., and a preferred construction for these openings, particularly where the casing is made of a sheet material like cardboard comprises a suitably congured line of cutting or scoring, illustratively U-shaped, as shown at 24, thus to provide a flap or tab less securely attached or connected to the material of the wall along the line 24, whence it may be forced out of the plane of the wall, as by pushing it downwardly as viewed in the drawings and hence inwardly of the casing structure, about a line indicated at 2B along which the sheetmaterial is uncut or less heavily scored. The openings 24 may in this manner be quickly and easily exposed, a suitable finger pressure or the application of a simple tool sufficing to break or bend the flap element 25 inwardly of the box and into a position somewhat like that shown in Figures 2 and 4. I

Usually the element 25 remains in such dependent but slightly angular position, serving in a sense also as a sort of ramp to guide the roach in its passage through the opening 2| and into the interior of the casing structure and onto the bottom 2l thereof.

' The interior contains a suitable quantity of poisonous substance, preferably in powder-like form, being indicated in Figure 3 at 28. Particularly where the substance 28, which may be of any suitable composition and which may include a suitable ingredient or ingredients to function as a food or like lure, is in powder-like form, I provide suitable means to conne it against such shifting or movement as will eHect the spilling or discharge of its particles through the opening or openings, such as the openings 2| or 22, of the device, and thus to lessen the chance of contaminating the surroundings or, for example, any person handling or shifting the device, particularly after the openings 2 |22 have beenexposed.

Such a means may comprise suitable elements segregating the space into whicheach opening leads from the more remote space containing the poisonous substance, by a passage or passages somewhat labyrinthean or otherwise shaped to let the roach pass therealong While substantially blocking movement of the particles ofthe substance to the space into which the opening leads.

An illustrative arrangement is shown in Figure 3 Where the upstanding wall members, conveniently made of sheet material like cardboard, extend between the top wall 23 and the bottom wall 21, and have configurations as indicated at 3| and 32. Thus element 3| may have a transversely extending portion 3 la extending from a side wal133 toward the opposite side wall 34, whence its several portions or sections 3|b--3| and 3|d extend angularly somewhat as shown in Figure 3. The companion element 32 has several portions or sections of which the first, 32h, extends from the side wall 34 substantially parallel to the portion 3|b of element 3|, whence its next portion 32c substantially parallels the portion 3|c, while its terminal portion 32d extends at an angle substantially as shown.

With such an arrangement, the generally central portion of the interior of the casing is formed into a compartment generally indicated by the reference character A, which is connected to the end space or compartment B, into which the opening 2| opens, by the broken or angular passageway C.

Where the device has an opening at the other end, such as the opening 22, the arrangement just described may be duplicated as shown in Figure 3, Where elements 3| and 32, preferably identical respectively to the above-described elements 3| and 32, coact with the interior walls of the structure to form a passage D connecting the compartment A with the opposite end compartment E into which the opening 22 opens.

Accordingly, should the device be up-ended or in handling turned over or around, the chance of substantial transfer of particles of the material 28 to either of the end compartments B or E is greatly reduced. If handled one way, the acute-angled space between the side wall and the partition element 32 catches any shifting quantities of the substance 28, and bars them from entry into the end compartment. If handled or positioned in another Way, the angle between the parts 32c and 32c1 catches a substantial portion of any shifting particles, or these parts may coact to deect particles into the angle between the side wall and the part 32h. If shifted to a different position, any shifting particles can slide along the side wall 33 or the side wall 34, as the case may be, to be caught in the angular space or compartment F or G formed by the configuration of the element 3|. And, in generally like manner, the various angularly positioned parts, in coaction with the walls of the casing structure and the proportioning of the several parts and the spaces and passages, of which Figure 3 is illustrative, greatly lessen the chance of iiow or movement of particles from the central compartment A to either of the end compartments B or E. And any particles that might somehow get into the end compartment B or E have a, good possibility of remaining entrapped therein as against egress through the openings 2| or 22 where the outlines of the opening are not aligned with an interior Wall; thusLcomparing Figures 2 and 3, the left-hand edge of opening 2| is spaced toward the right from the inside face of the end wall 36, the right-hand edge is spaced to the left of the partition element 3|a, and the upper and lower edges as viewed in Figure 2 are spaced respectively from the inside faces of the side walls 33 and 34. l

Thus the device, even though the poisonous substance 28 in the central compartment A is in powder-like form, may be handled with reasonable safety even though the openings 2| and 22 have been exposed, and shifting of material quantities of the substance 28 into either of the Y end compartments B-E is materiallyl guarded against, and this takes placenwhether or not the flap elements-25 have been ben-t or Ibroken finto opening-exposing position. y

A roach or @the like :enters an -end Vcompartmentby Way of either -of the entry-openings, --and with Athe-device made of anlopaque material, such as cardboard, fibre board, sheet metal -or the like, substantially `only la :small amount of -light enters the-device, and doessoby way ofthe-entry opening (2l 'or-22) and tosome-extent-the corresponding end compartment v(B or SE) Yhas a small Aamount of illumination--from-tlf1e exterior. But leading yawa-y `from the end compartment is the relatively -longfand narrow-and angular r-passage (C or D) ,.and that 'is relativel-ydark,` being in eiect 'darker as ther-exit end :to the central dark compartment A isiapproached. -In this atmosphere of relative-darkness, the roach-:finds .a simulation of dark narrow-spacesor crevices .in building construction, furniture `and the like which `it ynormally seeks `out-'as hiding places, and hence the roach soon ndsits way into the'd-ark interior compartment A, nto whichpassage of light rays from either end-opening is -pretty much .precluded .by the 4arrangement and -angularities of -the partitioning elements Vabove described.

.Should the roach Apartake oan-yor the poisonous material 28, so much the-better; whether or not it does, it may retrace 4itslsteps or pass along one of Ythe passages Atoanend compartment and to an opening inthe device, whenceAit--may -pass out to Yother surroundings, but in -the process it has also picked upon-itsflegs and body particles of the poisonous material 28-which is taken/into its-system either `by absorption or in the process of self-groomingl l The structure above-described may-be mechanically effected in any suitable way, but particularly where `,constructed out of vcardboard or the like, I prefer to utilize mechanical features to facilitate the assembly lof the `various parts. Thus, .for example@ may first make up a rectangularfbox-like structureopen-at the top,-and this may comprise `the bottom 2l (Figures f3, -4 and 5-) with .upstanding side walls .33 and 34e-and upstanding end walls 36-,36, the walls -beingepreferably integral `with Athe Jbottom 2.1 @and `folded upwardly therefrom. The bottom 21, however, has `cut through itislots 38 and-39 -(Figures '5 and 3) of a Width about equal `to the thickness-of the .elements 3l and 32 and `of,lrespective-'configurationsmatching A.those of the elements 3l and 32 as seen in Figure 3, the slots being Aarranged at both ends of the bottom where the ,device is to have an opening at each end.

This box-like Yelement .withits bottom `ZTI -thus slotted is tted .into .another box-like element comprising the .bottom 4l with side walls-42 -and 43, and end walls 44-44, the walls being prefer- -ably integral with .the bottom member M and beingjoined together at the corners in any-suitable way, as by glue or glued flaps or the like.

With such an arrangemenaand .with the slotted box element snuglyseatedinto the external box element, being proportioned as appears better in Figure 4, to be ,snuglyireceived therein, the

' cardboard elements y3l and,-32,.suitab1yscoredfor folding or bending `at the apexes of the Various angles, may now be folded-or bentinto theirangular relationships and .their lower edges `inserted, respectively,;into the slots38and 39 (see Figure 5), the external bottom element-4I vlimiting the extent of entry of the partition elements into the slots. Y

The parts .are :so proportioned .that athe-upper edges ofthe twol `box elementsithatareeated one withinthefother and oftheseveralpartitions ing Velements 31-32 .lle iin ythe 1 same lplane .to grewith thecontacting ends of the walls joined-to-` gether in any suitable way as byglue-orotheradhesive, or glued naps or the like, and-theseudepending side wallssnugly t aboutthe now double side and end wallsof the -bottom .box structure, being of preferably commensurate height as shown in Figures 4 and 5, and lall together-,forming a relatively very=strongstructure'wellable to withstand substantial vertical loads and to Vvresist deformation, even though made `of relatively light cardboard stock.

If desired, the lower two-part bottom structure may be, during assembly, secured together as Iby an adhesive` which may conveniently be spread onto the upper face of the bottom Wall 4|, thus also exposing theadhesive for engagement by the bottom-edges of the partition-forming-elements 39-32, thus to anchor them to the composite :bottom structure. Or, of course, -the adhesive may .be applied in any other suitable manner, and preferably also Athe vertical-edges vof the partition members 3l and 32, wherethey-contact the side "walls 33A and 34 may be sealed Yor anchored thereto as `by an adhesive, though byl seating the partition members fin slots as above described, suitable accuracy of construction `toprovide a relatively tight butt joint with vthe side walls can be obtained and thus adhesiveat those points may be dispensed with. VAlso, the several plies ofthe side and end walls may lbe-adhesively or otherwise secured together, in course of assembly, if desired.

With a construction like that above described, good results are achievable. If it `is desired v'to insure better security against entry-of powderlike material into compartment B orf'compartment E -of Figure 3, I may provide additional means at the inner end of the relatively 'long narrow angular passage (C or D) to aid in deectingor blocking entry-of particles or portions of the material 28 into the passage.

Such a means may comprise 4an element generally indicated by the reference character 48. and better shown in Figures 3 and 3a, suitably conformed -to provide anA upstanding parl-,#811

across the inner mouth or end ofthe `passage-'Cl and is of less height than thevertical dimension of the passage so that roaches or the like-can easily -get or` move over it, -in teither -.direction while the part d8a acts-as a Idamlor barrier-Sto stop lthe flow or,.movemen't-of poisonous material into the passage C, acting also to deilectfit against `the entry into the passage C-particularly where -the part 48a is, as .in the preferred construction, substantially aligned with the lelement Sid-as is shown-in Figures 3`andl3a.

Preferably, the device 48 has apart llb'that overlies voroverhangs that lside :of Ithe part-83a that is Yexposedin ,a direction from .which thematerial--28 `or parts of it would move .o11flow,and conveniently and preferably -the :part itb lex tends `substantially parallel to the 'bottom' portion 2l (Figure 3a) -to formawith -it .andthe part-I8a a pocket-like -spacefor chamber infw-liich-'to trap moving material, the overhanging par't A311 thus coacting also to improve the action of part 488' and in preventing direct overflow of materialinto the passage C. Y 'Y i In the handling of the entire construction, shouldmaterial become entrapped in the pocket underlying the part 48h, particularly where it is relatively free flowing as it can be when in powder-like form, a tilting of the structure in a suitable direction can result in the material flowing out of the pocket and into the compartment A or adjacent regions.

The device 48 may be constructed in any suitable manner and conveniently maybe made integrally with the bottom part 2l and in such case may be constructed in the form of a flap defined at its two sides by the slots 38 and 39, :by a line of cutting 48c and by score lines 48d and 48e about which it may be bent or folded into the abovedescribed shape, at a suitable point in the assembly. The resultant aperture remains, of course, closed by the bottom ply 4l of the bottom structure. Where the device is provided with entry openings in the top Wall 23 (see Figures l and 2), I preferably provide suitable means for fastening the device down to the surface upon which it is to be laid and thus also to insure against its being turned up-side-down or -otherwise improperly positioned initially for use. Thus I may provide, preferably at the ends liap-like elements 49 (Figures 1 and 3) which extend or may be extended into the plane of the bottom face of the device and which may be secured to the supporting surface by any suitable means such as, for example, thumb tacks 49a.

Preferably, the elements 49 are integrally formed with a suitable wall or walls of the device, conveniently or illustratively the end wall or walls 4l, being formed by lines of cutting 49b which in outline are somewhat like an inverted U, and by a score line 49. Thus, each flap element 49 may be folded out of the plane of the end wall 4l, about the score line 49c as an axis, and its outer portion brought into engagement with the supporting surface to be secured thereto as by the thumb tack 49a.

The internal arrangements of coacting compartments and labyrinthean passage or passageway may be varied within the spirit of my invention and in Figures 6-10 I have shown an illustrative embodiment of one such possible modification, the device of this form being shown in perspective in Figure 6 where it is generally indicated by the reference character 50, and as appears from Figures 7, 8 and 10, it comprises a closed casing structure which, as in Figures l-5, may be built up of box-like sections.

Since these box-like sections are in general the same as those employed in the form of Figures l5, their respective parts are correspondingly identified, and thus there may be an internal bottom wall 2l with upstanding side and end walls 33-34-36-36 received into the outer box-like bottom part which comprises the bottom wall 4I with side and end Walls 42-,43-44--44. The top wall 23 may again have depending side and end walls 45-45--41-4'L The bottom part 2l may again be slotted in the various configurations of the partition and passage-forming members or elements to be received into the slots and against the bottom part 4I and secured thereto, if desired, as by an adhesive and with their upper edges and the edges of the side and end walls of the bottom structure abutting against the inner face of the top wall 23 to which they may be sealed or secured as Y`by an adhesive. l ,y

If vdesired also, theentry and exit opening or openings, instead of being formed in the top wall 23 as in Figures 1-5, may be Vprovided in anotherwall or Walls of the structure and in Figures 6-10 I have shown how they may be provided, in the end walls. For that purpose, the two plies36-44 of the end Walls ofthe bottom partA or bottom structure, better shown in Figure 8, are provided with suitable apertures 5| and 52 respectively, preferably aligned, and preferably substantially rectangular in outline. The end walls 4l--4l of the upper casing part and which overlie respectively the plies 44--44 (see Figure l0) are preferably provided with normally closed openings, similar to the openings 2l and 22 of Figure 2, being thus conveniently and preferably formed by cutting or heavily scoring the sheet material along, for example, an inverted U -shaped line 24 to provide a ap element 25 which may be broken or forcedinwardly Vabout the uncut or more lightly scored line 26, into a position substantially likethat shown in Figure l0, leaving an opening 53 in the Wall ply 4l overlying and substantially aligned with the aligned openings gal-u2, trie inturned flap 25 functioning, 1I' desired,l somewhat like a ramp.

The elements subdividing the interior into various compartments and labyrinthean passages may be given configurations and locatons,.in this illustrative modification, somewhat as shown in Figure4 8, and where the device has entry openings at its respective ends, these elements are preferably similarly positionedwith respect to the transverse center line of the device as viewed in lFigure 8, similar elements to either side of suchva center line being identified by similar reference characters. l

Thus two substantially V-shaped elements 54 and 55 coact with the internal Walls of the device to form the main or central compartment H in which is contained a poisonous substance 28, iilustratively in powder-like form, and at the end, adjacent the opening 53 L-shaped elements 56 andr5l coact with the walls of the casing to form an Vend` compartment J into which the roaches are rst received when they pass through the opening 53, the L-shaped arrangement of the elements providing a passageway K leading from the compartment orspace J in a direction toward the compartment H. Y l

Interposed therebetween, are two V-shaped elements 58 and 59 joined by an element 6U and, in turn, joined by L-shaped elements 62 and 63 to the Walls 33 and 34 respectively, thereby forming between the space J and the compartment H several intervening spaces or compartments later herein mentioned. In the longitudinal portions of the elements 52 and 63 I provide apertures ilwhich may be formed therein substantially as shown in Figure 10.

With such an illustrative arrangement, should the device heup-ended, any of the material v28 that is not caught in the angles of the V-sbaped elements 54 and 55 and which may thus pass out of the central compartment H is in effect caught and guided by the parts 58EL and 59a of the V-shaped elements 58 and 59, which thus act like a funnel to guide the material into the compartment L Where the structure is symmetrical or doubleended, while the above action is taking place at one end, areverse action is taking place at the Other `end in that the parts 58b and 59b of the .elements 58 and.` 59 guide any ,material previously trapped .inv the compartment Ly out Yof it,

whence the parts 54@ and 55e of the-elements 5.4andf 55,-act. like funnels to guide the. material back into the compartment H. Should any of the material bypass the funnel parts Mie-59B, it becomes entrapped in the compartments P,y and any that might find its way throughthe apertures 64 has its chances of entering the end compartment J materially diminished due to the longitudinal parts 56a and 5la of the elements B and 5 -'l,.which tend to deflect it into the, compartments Q. Any material that can possibly vget into the passage K and intoy the end compartment J, and from the above it will' be seen that thev chances are exceedingly remote, stilldoesnot. have free. flow out of the opening 53. whose. margins (see Figures 8-10) are spaced from. the top, bottom and side walls of the casing s tructura, leaving substantial portions of the end wall structure to. stop free flow or movement of any such. few particles out. through the opening 53l Theheight of the upper and lower edgesof the aperture 64 fromtheir respective upper and lower walls 23 andv 2T may be on the order of the vertical dimension. of the part 48a of Figure 3a, illustratively on the'order of M5 and, referring torFi'gures 8-10, the upper and. lower edges of the opening 64 may be provided withparts 64a extending substantially parallel to or overlying respectively the upper and lower walls. 23V and 2l, much in thesame manner as thepart 48b of Figure 3E overlies the wall 21.. Parts. 648-6411 may be formed or made. in any suitable. manner and conveniently and illustratively may be made in theform of aps integrally formed with the elements. 62r and 53, as the case may be, and folded out of the plane thereof along suitable score lines that extend substantially along the upper and lower boundaries of the aperture 64. Parts 64E-64a may be folded out of the plane of their respective partitioning elements at any suitable stage in course of construction or assemblyfof the device.

'Ihus each part 64, in coaction with the adjacentparts, forms a pocket or chamber and otherwise may act. or coact to resist ow of material from the compartment? through an aperture 64, much in the same way as was described above ifn connection with the parts 2'1-l3fl-48b (Figure 3a).

With the entry opening or openings, in the device of Figures 6-10, in walls other than the top andbottom walls, illustratively in the end walls `as above described, the device can act reversibly in that the various elements within it can function irrespective of whether the wall 23 or the wall 2'l-4I is made the bottom wall in laying the device down for operation. Preferably also, I provide suitable means lfor fastening the device to the supporting surface and conyeniently and preferably such means takes the formv of suitable flaps, like the flaps 49 of Figures 1-31 Thus, for example, in each end wall 4l, I provide two flaps 65 and B6, formed by U-shaped lines of cutting El and by a score line 68"or` 69, but so related that the score line 68 of the ap 65'is at thev lower end and the score line 69 of the 'ap 6B isV at the upper end.

Thus, if the device is positioned so that the bottom ply 4| rests on the supporting surface, theflaps` B5 of the two end walls 4l. are folded out ofthe planes of the latter andrtheir outer ing surface, asindicated in Figure.l 7,. whence they may be. secured. to., the 4supporting surface .as by` thumbv tacks lil. Should the wall 23 be made thebottom, use is, made ofthe flaps 55 in the two. end. walls, instead. of flaps 55.

Thus, as with the form of Figures 1-5, free particles of the poisonous. substance or material that. escape. `from the'main compartment are trapped. in .auxiliary compartments, the relationships between the. t'wo beingsuch that,Y should the device be further handled or reversely positioned, return. ow of escaped.' particles to the main compartment, or at leastfa goodly portion thereof, can take place.

But anentering roach has access to any such auxiliary compartmentssuch as compartments F or G of Figure 3 or the compartments Q, P or L, and including thecorner-like spaces between the side walls. and the parts 51%b and` 55b of the elements 54 and 55, andthus can partake of the poisonous substance or pick some of it up by contact" for subsequent absorption. into thev system or transfer intoy the system as by self-grooming.

In thev form of Figures 6 10, the end compartment .I' receives some light through the opening 53,. but relative darkness prevails in c ompartments Q and P while complete darkness exists in compartments H and L and the adjoining or related passages, and thus again a roach or the like nds in the dark or darker passages and compartments av simulation to dark crevices, cracks, spaces or the like in building construction, floors, walls, furniture and the like which it naturally seeks out as hiding places.

Preferably, as in the form. of Figures 1-5, the roach or the like may find its way out. ofthe device, and hence the ultimate destruction of its life doe's notY necessarily takeplace within the device; though it will now'be seen that. it may if the roach remains within the device or returns to it as a hiding place. The preferred dimensional shape or proportioning of the device, in either of the illustrative forms, is preferably such that it is of small cross section relative to its length; thus,v for use against roaches., the device may have Va length of 8 or 9;inches or so, a. height, as rViewed in Figures land 6 on the. order of %andv a width on the order of, say,.2 inches. Thus a. closer simulationinteriorly Yof long, dark. relatively narrow spaces or passages may be eifected and also greater flexibility and adaptability of placing the device in, restricted spaces is achieved.

The devicewill be seenY to be capable of rapid and inexpensivemanufacture, and is safev to handle and elicigent in action. When made of sheet materi-al like cardboard, relatively light or thin material may be employed .for certain of the structural features', such as the. angularly conformedv passage-forming or compartment-formingn elements; like those better shown in Figures Spand 8, have, by reason of their angularities', relatively great resistance to compression and thus coact with the side and end walls to give the device substantial' rigidity against distortion .or deformation, and thus the lasting qualities of .the vdevice are materially enhanced'. Where the upperland lower edges of these angular elements are secured to the top and bottom wall. structures; as by anl adhesive where cardboard.

Y is'used, thesereinforcing or strengthening actions areV vfurther enhanced. Thus breakage of the device as'- wouldpermit the escape or leakage of ends brought. into.v engagementv withl the support- Thus it will be seen that there has been provided in this inventionja device in which the various objects above mentioned together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. n

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: Y

1. A device of the character described comprising a closed casing having top and bottom walls and opposed side and end walls and having means therein extending between the top and bottom walls and forming within the casing andbetween said topand bottom walls a plurality of compartments in one of which is contained a poisonous substance, there being an aperture in a wall of the casing forming an entry opening into another of said compartments, said means comprising transversely spaced elements forming at least one `passageway connecting said two above-mentioned compartments, said elements having a configuration to give the passage angularities to resistiree flowor movement of particles of the poisonous substance along either of said top and bottom walls4 and from said rstmentioned ,compartment to the second-mentioned compartmentwhich has the entry opening therein.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said elements also .have angularities which in coaction withwalls of the casing form at least one auxiliary pocket-like space or compartment for trapl ping particles of the poisonous substance moving in the general direction toward said second-mentioned compartment.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said elements have a coniiguration to give said passage a substantially labyrinthean form.

4. A device of the character described comprising a casing having vmeans forming an entrance for a roach orv the like and having opposed walls between which extend elements of sheet material forming labyrinthean passage means leading from the region of said entrance means to a region spaced interiorly from the4 latter,

Y there being in said casing in said second region a poisonous substance, the labyrinthean passage meansn having dimensionsv of width' appropriate for the passage therealong of a roach and voperating to resist the flow or'movement of particles of the poisonous substance from said second region to said first-'mentioned region, at least one ofthe walls between which said means of sheet material extends having grooves following the configuration -oiv the sheet material means for receiving edge portions of the lattery to hold itin its said conguration'and against transverse shifting.A

5. A device-of the character vdescribed comprising a casing having means forming an entrance-for a roach or the like and having opposed walls. between .which extend elements of sheet material forming labyrinthean passage means leading from the region of said entrance means toV a region spaced interiorly from the latter, there being in said casing in said second region a poisonous substance, the labyrintheanpassage means having dimensions of width appropriate 'fon the passage therealong of av roach and operating to resist the flow or movement of particles jspectively portions, said labyrinth-forming sheet material means and one of said casing parts having intertting means, thereby to hold said sheet material means in its labyrinthean conflguration, and means lfor. securing said two casing parts togetherwith thewallnof said other casing part juxtaposed tothe wall ofthe companion casing partand in abutting relation to saidsheet material means. Y

6.V A device of the character described comprising a closed lcasing having therein two spaced regions whichirhave a wall oisaid casing as a floor commonlto both regions,` in one` of which is contained a poisonous substance and ina casing wall ofthe Vother of which is means forming an entrance for roaches or the like and spaced means upstanding from said oor-wall forming a passageway therealong connecting said two regions for the passage of a roach or the like along said hoor-wall for entry into said region containing the .poisonous substance, said spaced means comprising a plurality of elements arranged at successive angularities along said passageway to provide successive connected angularly disposed passageway portions operating by their relative angularities to resist flow or movement of portions of the poisonous substance from said region containing the latter to the region containing said entrance means.

'LA device ofthe characterl described comprising aclosed casing having therein two separated regions which have a wall of said casing as a floor common to both regions, in one of which is contained a poisonous substance and in a casing wall of the other of which is means forming an entrance for roaches or the like and manually operable means normally forming a closure ior said entrance and capable of being openedwhen the device is put to use, and means intervening said two regions and coacting with the walls oi the casing forming indirect channel means having said floor-wall substantially as its bottom and along which a roach may pass from` one region to the other and having a conguration to provide deflectors for deflecting `iiow or movement of poisonous substance away from entry into the region having said entrance means.

`8. A device of the character described comprising a closed casing having therein two separated regions which have a wall of said casing as a oor common to both regions, in one of which is contained a poisonous substance and in a casing wall of the other of which is means forming an entrance for roaches or the like and manually operable means normally forming a closure for said entrance and capable of being opened when the device is put to use, and means intervening said two regions and coacting with the walls of the casing forming indirect channel means having said floor-wall substantially as its bottom and along which a roach may pass from one region to the other and having a conguration to provide one or more pocket-like compartments for catching therein such of the poisonous substance as flows or moves out of its aforesaid region.

9. A device of the character described comprising a closed casing having top and bottom walls and opposed side and end walls'and having a, plurality of elements extending between the top and bottom walls and forming within the casing and between said top and bottom walls a plurality of compartments in one of which is contained a poisonous substance, there being means forming an entryropening in a wall of the casing leading into another of said compartments, said elements including elements forming connecting passageway means along which a roach or the like, entering through said entry opening, may pass from one compartment to said compartment containing the poisonous substance, said last-mentioned elements having congurations to give the passageway means successive portions making angles to each other, thereby to resist flow or movement of poisonous substance from the compartment of the latter to the other compartment.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 in which said elements form a single passageway means between the two compartments and also have configurations to form auxiliary pocket-like compartments to catch poisonous material therein.

11. A device as claimed in claim 9 in which said elements provide a plurality of passageway means connecting said two compartments and have configurations to provide auxiliary pocketlike compartments for catching poisonous substance moving in the general direction toward the compartment having said entry opening.

12. A device of the character described comprising a casing having partition-like means therein for dividing its interior into at least two compartments which have a common iioor-wall and in one of which is contained a poisonous substance and in a wall of the other of which is an entry opening for the admission of roaches or the like, said partition means having a passage therethrough for roaches travelling along said common :floor-wall from one compartment to the other and means coacting with the Walls of said casing and forming a plurality of pocketlike compartments for catching poisonous substance shifting or moving along said oor-wall in a direction toward the passage in said partition means, whereby poisonous substance caught in said pocket-like compartments is prevented from shifting along said iioor-wall to said passage, at least certain of said pocket-like compartments facing in a direction toward said compartment containing the poisonous substance, whereby the pocket-like compartment, upon reverse flow or movement of poisonous substance caught in it, may discharge along said oor-wall in a direction toward the compartment containing the poisonous substance.

13. A device of the character described comprising a closed casing having top and bottom walls and opposed side and end walls and having a plurality of elements extending between the top and bottom walls and forming within the casing a plurality of compartments in one of which is contained a poisonous substance, there being means forming an entry opening in a wall of the casing leading into another of said compartments, said elements including elements forming connecting passageway means along which a roach or the like, entering through said entry opening, may pass from one compartment to said compartment containing the poisonous substance, said last-mentioned elements having configurations to give the passageway means successive portions making angles to each other, thereby to resist flow or movement of poisonous substance from the compartment of the latter to the other compartment, and barrier means partially obstructing said passageway means to block free flow or movement of the substance along the bottom wall in the general direction from the compartment containing the poisonous substance toward the other compartment, said barrier means being insufficient in dimensions to obstruct passage of a roach or the like.

14. A device of the character described comprising a casing having partition-like means therein for dividing its interior into at least two compartments in one of which is contained a poisonous substance and in a wall of the other of which is an entry opening for the admission of roaches or the like, said partition means having means forming an elongated passage from one compartment to the other with a wall of said casing forming the bottom of said passage along which ow or movement of poisonous substance can take place, and means upstanding from said wall for stopping ow or movement thereof in a direction along said passage toward that compartment that has said entry opening therein.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14 in which said means forming a passage comprises an aperture in said partition-like means and in which said last-mentioned means comprises a portion of said apertured partition-like means.

16. A device as claimed in claim 14 in which said last-mentioned means comprises also a part that overlies said wall and forms with said 'upstanding means a pocket-like recess for entrapping owing or moving substance.

17. A device of the character described comprising a casing having means forming an entrance for a roach or the like and having upstanding from the bottom wall thereof and coacting With the lateral walls of said casing a plurality of sheet-like members arranged in spaced relation to each other and to said lateral walls and angularly to each other and to theA latter to provide at least one labyrinthean passageway along said bottom wall and extending from the region of said casing adjacent said entrance-forming means to a region within said casing spaced from said entrance-forming means, there being in said second region a poisonous substance that is trapped therein by the angularities of said sheet-like members against flow from said second region to said rst region, said passage being substantially unobstructed for movement therealong of roaches or the like in either direction.

18. A device of the character described comprising a casing having a bottom wall and having two interior regions, there being an entrance opening in a wall of said casing for entry of a roach or the like into one of said regions, a poisonous substance in the other of said regions, and spaced means upstanding from said bottom wall forming a passageway along the latter from one of said regions to the other, said spaced means providing a plurality of connected passageway portions which make angles with each other to entrap poisonous material tending to move along the passageway in a direction from said second region toward said first region and being substantially unobstructed for passage therealong in either direction of roaches or the like.

ALEX WEIL. 

